And so their travels went- Aisling telling her stories of the adventures she had in each hold, such as of how exactly the wayward Second of the Thieves Guild convinced her to join their dubiously honorable ranks, Delvin telling of his own past when the spirit moved him. There were some things he wasn't comfortable letting her know just yet- like the incident that led him to hiding out with the Brotherhood- and the Breton knew she could tell, but his Guild Master didn't pry which he appreciated. It wasn't that the trainer was ashamed of his past, he just didn't know how the Nord would react to it. They even spent an extra day and night at Raven Rock, mainly to get the Mallory brothers a chance to reconnect in person, and not just talk through letters. Eventually though the two thieves had to make their way back to the mainland, and, after saying farewell to Glover, boarded the Northern Maiden.

Once reaching Windhelm, the auburn haired woman pulls her hood up, the black leather casting shadows across pale skin. Aisling did not want to take any chances walking the stone streets of the snowy city- knowing the luck she had in this place, a soldier would recognize her and send word to Ulfric that his elusive Stormblade was finally seen in his capital.. She could feel the questioning gaze laced with concern drilling into her back as her Breton follows slightly behind. Had this been anywhere else, the Nord would have stopped and explained everything, but not here, never in the open.

Through the city the pair walk, past the homes of the deceased Calixto and the Guild's fence Niranye. Ignoring the call of the warmth from Candlehearth Hall. Instead of cutting up and passing through the graveyard alongside the Hall of the Dead, the woman brings him through the marketplace and the far end of the cemetery to the southwestern entrance to the Valunstrad. Gray eyes glance quickly at the home owned by Clan Shatter-Shield, then at the one owned by busybody Viola Giordano. It would be her luck if one of the residents of those houses came out and saw her- the former would once again invite her over, still thankful for Ailsing giving justice to their murdered daughter; the latter would stop at nothing to find out where the ginger Nord was hiding, how long she was planning on staying in Windhelm, who the mystery man with her was, and had she visited the Palace yet. Valid questions, but there was a snow drift's chance in Oblivion that she'd tell that woman anything.

Satisfied that no one was around, she continues leading the bald man further up the street and around the stone wall that surrounded her home. "You should feel honored, Del," Aisling murmurs quietly as she unlocks the door to Hjerim.

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because it has been a very long time," the redhead says, pushing the entrance open and allowing him to go inside first. She could guess the question before he could even voice what was on his mind. "It has been a very long time since I had someone here for something other than planning battles or tracking the Thalmor."

"And is the last person you had here that way the reason you don't like running jobs here anymore?" Delvin didn't need an answer as Aisling's behavior- silent and otherwise- said more than most people realized. Nocturnal knows it took him long enough to figure out most of her tells, but his Guild Master still found ways to surprise him. When he hears the heavy door shut behind him, the Breton adds "What did he do, Aisling?"

Here the redhead sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. I was ready to tell him everything. Now that the moment is finally here after showing Delvin the rest of my past, why do I all of a sudden have cold feet?

Because you actually care about his reaction to hearing of the point of our life when we were the most broken, how, in comparison to this, Mercer's betrayal was nothing put a parchment cut.

He wouldn't leave me- he promised!

You thought the same thing about the Stormcloak and look where that got us.

Ignoring her conscience, the woman gestures to the seats in front of the roaring fireplace. "Sit down, Del. This conversation might need a drink or six."

Delvin heads to the chairs in question, moving the second one next to his without a thought. Partially it was to ease her mind, but it was also to calm the fear gnawing at his heart that the woman would run again. On second thought... When she comes and sets a rather dusty bottle on the table next to his chair, the quick thinking thief grabs onto Aisling's arm and tugs her into his lap. "No. Right here."

"Shadows take you, Mallory, there's a perfectly good chair-" The fire kissed Nord starts to protest, only to stop when she feels her lover's arms tighten just a touch around her waist. "Fine, but do not blame me when you want to hear no more..."

Leaning back into Delvin's embrace, she starts to fill in the gaps of the story told as they traveled to the other Holds, of her going to both Solitude and Windhelm to convince Tullius and Ulfric to come to High Hrothgar and negotiate a temporary cease to the war until Alduin was dealt with. As soon as word reached both sides that the World-Eater no longer lived, the Imperials and Stormcloaks were battling once more. While the woman attempted to settle down for a quiet life, Aisling admitted that being idle was not a concept that sat well with her.

She talks of her feet eventually bringing her back to Windhelm, where not only did the words of the civil war being at a stalemate once more, but there was a killer running loose in the city- if that wasn't going to get her blood singing, Aisling did not know what would.

"Maybe you should have come straight to the Rift-"

Aisling snorts, interrupting the rest of his sentence with "Don't get me wrong, certainly the events with Karliah and Mercer trying to pin everything on her made things interesting, but you know as well as I that the jobs that get handed out get a bit repetitive after awhile." She sighs, rubbing at her forehead thoughtfully. "No, regardless of what I chose to do, my path would have always led to Eastmarch and her Jarl. Unfortunately, while I hope that I can close the book on that part of my life for good, I know that is not the case for his life is bound to mine. The Gods and Princes are both the same in that they certainly like to see me dance and try to keep up with their discordant tunes."

The redhead shivers slightly as she feels one of his hands slip under her chest piece as Delvin asks her what happened after she arrived in the city. "Figured out who was behind the murders, so that made the city safe- well, as safe as it could be with a stalemated civil war going on and stress from the racial tensions. I was leaving the palace after reporting my findings to the Steward, Jorleif, when..."

"Wait."

A slight frown crosses the young Nord woman's face as a gravelly voice calls out from behind her.

"Come back for a moment."

Shadows take this person from keeping me from leaving. I'm tired! Aisling turns around, trying to see who exactly had the gall to order her around. The voice was somewhat familiar, but for whatever reason, the Dragonborn could not place it. Her search was not in vain though, taking note that the stone throne- originally unoccupied- now held the figure of a reclining male, his features somewhat hidden by light shadows. As she makes her way back, the face becomes clearer and the finally connects the voice she heard now with the memories it coaxed forth in her mind.

"We've met before."

The woman tilts her head in agreement. "Twice. The first time was on a lovely cart ride to Helgen where I was due to be executed for being at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Ah yes, the Nord woman they had demeaned by knocking her out and then dressing her in rags. I had heard from one of the soldiers that you helped him escape from the caverns." The Jarl of Windhelm stares at the redhead intently. "You spoke of a second time, but I cannot place it."

Aisling snorts softly as she brushes a long strand of hair from her line of vision. "You wouldn't have, as I had a full helm on at the time. Didn't really need anyone knowing who I was at the peace council at High Hrothgar. I handed Markarth to you on a silver platter."

Green eyes blink slowly as Ulfric says nothing for a few moments. Finally, just as the ginger is about to lose what restraint she has on her temper, he lets out a chuckle and goes "The Dragonborn it seems has a sense of humor. Shame you weren't up at High Hrothgar when I was on the path to becoming a Greybeard. Might have made my time up there a bit more palpable."

"All it would have taken was a woman studying the Way of the Voice to keep you from running to fight the Thalmor? I will have to let Master Arngeir know for future reference." The younger woman adjusts the strap on her knapsack and adds "If that is all?"

"Do you have somewhere to be?"

"Always. But just like everyone else, I need time to rest myself-"

The man's lips seem to curl slightly, but Aisling blames what she sees as illusions by flickering lights manipulating shadow. "Are you bored, Dragonborn?"

"What makes you ask that?" Speculative eyes glance at the Steward, then over to a gaping bearded Nord who seemed to think that his Jarl had lost his mind, and back to the man in question. "I might appreciate quietness once in awhile instead of running around taking care of others who choose not to do it for themselves."

A snort is heard from the throne, followed by "You fought the World-Eater and returned from Sovngarde victorious. We've heard rumors of what you accomplished in Solstheim. Then no one hears anything of the Dragonborn for months, just random sightings in various places and tending to the needs of strangers. Now here you are solving a murder spree that's plagued my guard for months. So in answer to your question, yes, I believe civilian life is not agreeing with you. Settling down and being lazy is not in your nature. And do you know how I know that?" Dark emeralds stare unwaveringly at the woman as the Jarl of Windhelm leans forward just a touch as he answers his own question. "Because you're exactly like me."

He had her, and they both knew it. Aisling had heard from Master Arngeir that Ulfric Stormcloak, having caught wind of the war between the Empire and the Thalmor, was caught up in it, forgoing his training with the Greybeards to go fight to defend his home and ending up captured in the process. And with no dragon nor priest causing chaos, she was finding the random bandit contract and giant slaying lacking in challenge. "And what exactly could you give me as an enticement to stay here in Windhelm for a time, Jarl Ulfric? Money, power? I have plenty of that."

The broad armored male slowly rises from the stone throne and makes his way down the stairs, his eyes still never leaving Aisling's face. Ulfric, holding an arm out towards the woman in offering, goes "Let's see what we can offer the Dragonborn, shall we?"

"And that's how I got involved in the Civil War- the promise to alleviate my boredom, which he upheld to the last."

"When did you and the Stormcloak become..."

The redhead puts the now empty bottle on the table with a sigh. "When did we start fucking? It was about two months after the battle of Whiterun- everywhere from that hold downward was in constant downpour and made fighting rather difficult, especially trying to get the siege engines where they needed to be with all the mud. We were sparring, one thing led to another and..."

"I don't need to hear anymore of that- just the thought of another man touching you is unsettling me. The fact I'm in said man's own Hold would not stop me from giving the Stormcloak a piece of my mind. Did it end poorly? Is that why you try to not come back here?" Delvin watches as the young woman's face falls somewhat, her features hiding behind loose strands of fire. "What am I missing, Aisling?"

"Death," she whispers, tears that she swore not to shed falling freely down her face. "All he had to do was say no... But a crown meant more to him than anyone or anything. He couldn't fathom winning everything, only to have it ripped away from him by the Moot if he didn't agree to their choice of bride for him. We believed he would do what was right for his people... we learned that lesson and its' harsh truth too late..."

Delvin tightens his arms around the Nord woman's waist, unable to come up with any words that might give her solace. Maybe it doesn't need to be said. He listens as her sobs slowly give way to sniffles, then to a random hiccup, and then silence, all the while never releasing his hold. "You know what... Never mind. We don't have to talk about-"

"No. We do. If you're serious about this," here Aisling pulls at the amulet around her neck, "about spending the rest of your life with me, you need to know everything. I would rather you know now and be able to walk away, then learn later and hate being chained to me for the rest of our lives." She stands up, tugging the Breton along behind her. "Come on. I was originally going to wait until after dinner, but with our rather bad luck at not getting interrupted..."

The older thief chuckles as he stands, "I don't think there's been a time you've left me unsatisfied, Aisling. Well... there was that one time in Honeyside..."

"You're about to go walking down a dangerous road, Mallory-" she goes as the two make their way out of Hjerim.

"I only meant that I was left wanting, love. That's all."

The pair walk in silence away from the home, Delvin's arm wrapped snugly around Aisling's waist. It seemed oddly domestic and yet he took comfort in this fact, as well as it was also odd being able to just stroll through the streets of a city and not have half the guard chasing after him. Their path leads them to the Halls of the Dead, the Nord woman pausing once inside to greet Helgrid, who tells her that someone is currently already paying their respects.

The Guild Master blanches, pressing up against her companion's side for comfort. "Is it..."

"No child," the older woman goes, giving her a sad yet comforting smile. "The General has come down from the Palace. He had gotten wind that you were passing through and had hoped to see you before you pulled your vanishing act again."

As he gets led away from the Priestess, the Breton whispers "Is this General going to be a problem?"

"I'd like to think not. Galmar..." A pause, then "Galmar was... is a good man. Loyal to a fault."

"But?"

"His being here could mean one of two things. Either Ulfric knows I'm here in Windhelm and is demanding my presence-"

"If Ulfric knew you were here, Stormblade, you would never have made it past the gates. You'd have been brought straight to the Palace. The fact you were not should answer whether or not the High King knows of your being here."

Gray and brown orbs land on a burly, heavy armored Nord male who was placing a small blue bloom in front of a small, but well cared for burial urn. "I was surprised when one of the guards told me they saw you and an unknown male making your way to Hjerim- the same unknown man that various officers have seen you with across Skyrim and down from High Hrothgar. If it wasn't for the fact that I see the reports first..." Galmar shakes his bearded head at Aisling, then stares at Delvin as he growls out, "What's your name, Breton?"

A squeezing on his arm tells the younger man not to pick a fight with the soldier. "Delvin Mallory," he bites out while glancing over at the woman beside him, "I'm from the Rift."

"Doesn't matter where you're from. What I want to know is why some thief thinks he's good enough for our Stormblade."

"That's enough, Galmar-" the redhead tries to stop this conversation before it has a chance to become something more, only to find her intended covering her mouth with his hand.

"You didn't want to rely on people to help you with your problems, love. Let me handle mine." Delvin brushes his lips against Aisling's forehead, only pulling back when he feels her acquiesce. "Do I think I am worthy of her love and affections? The only two people I think less deserving than I are our colleague Brynjolf and your High King, but the reasons for both are very different- my brother simply because he is a flirt of the worst kind and cannot keep himself faithful to one woman for long. And as for the Stormcloak... well, are you telling me I should respect a man who gives up the woman he supposedly loves to be bound to the figurehead he fought against, all for a crown, title and chair?"

The Nord woman's hand slaps quickly over her lover's mouth before he could continue. "This is not the time nor the place for this. If you two can not behave, you both can leave while I try to explain to Freydis why my future husband and commanding officer cannot get along!"

"Freydis?"

"You haven't told him?"

Hematite eyes glance up to the stone ceiling as if asking for patience. "That's why he's here, Galmar. Delvin asked me to marry him and I said yes- I brought him to this place so that he would know the full story before tying himself to me for the rest of his life. Instead, I have to watch the two of you squabble like children."

"I'm...sorry, Stormblade." The older man looked thoroughly cowed by her statement, and it was obvious apologies were not easy for the bear-like man. "After everything you went through with Ulfric, some of us were concerned- and rightly so. We didn't want to see you look like you did two years ago. But… if you're willing to trust him with this, he has my blessing. Know this, Breton," blue eyes move from Aisling to Delvin rather quickly, "If any of us even hear the slightest rumor that you have done something foolish, you will have to get out of the province before you can stop looking over your shoulder. If you're lucky enough to make it, that is."

Mallory glances over at the woman beside him and asks "Just how many friends of yours are going to threaten me if I even look at you wrong?"

"You'd be surprised at how short and yet how lengthy that list is, Del." A wry smile graces her face, then Aisling becomes serious once more. Carefully picking up the small burial urn, her gaze shifts over to Delvin and says quietly "This was...is… Freydis. My daughter. Ulfric's daughter."

The story comes haltingly as she sets the vessel down, how from that fateful day in Eastmarch up until the Moot she and Ulfric had been rather inseparable, how the meeting of the Jarls demanding that he wed Elisif to show to the rest of Nirn that the once warring province was now unified. She tells Delvin, with some help from the Housecarl, of Ulfric bowing to the wishes of those he had put in those seats of power, both Nords admitting that they as well as others felt betrayed by their Jarl's choice in the matter. Aisling talks about how she drifted away from everyone, making the necessary appearances in her roles as the Thane of Eastmarch and the Jarl's Stormblade, her mask keeping most from realizing just how much this farce was bothering her. Then, the woman realizing she was pregnant, telling no one save Jora and Galmar, yet somehow the High King's wife found out and had the woman who was her only competition ambushed and causing the redhead to miscarry. It wouldn't do, she says the hired thugs told her, for the High King of Skyrim to have any bastards running about threatening his wife's future children.

"Of which she never had," the heavily armored man grunts out. "Married over two years and Mara never blessed the union with an heir… or it could be Elisif's doing. Anything could be possible with those blasted elves still around at that point. I do know Ulfric tried though- one heir, he told me. That's all he wanted from her, as well as acting like everything was well in their marriage. After that, Ulfric didn't care what his wife did- I think he realized that when he bent the knee to the Jarls, he lost far more than he gained."

For a few moments, the Sneak Trainer is eerily silent, and Aisling feels her heart sink just a little bit more than normal. "It all makes sense now- why you showed up in Riften as you did, your reluctance to have anything to do in Windhelm, your not wanting to get close to anyone in the Guild. Does he know?"

"No, but not from Galmar's lack of trying to convince me otherwise. It won't change anything if he knows or not-"

"He still loves you, Aisling-"

"I do not care, General. He didn't care about us then, I don't care about rebuilding what I had with him now. Besides, I'm happy with Delvin, the happiest I've been in a long while. You've already given your blessing, Galmar- don't ruin what respect I still hold for you by going back on your word already."

"You know I wouldn't, Stormblade. I'd be no better than Ingmund and that lot of new Jarls of if did such a thing."The bearded man sighs, then asks "When's the wedding?"

"As soon as we can manage it. She gave me the slip once, I'm not letting her escape me a second time."

A bright smile breaks out across the younger Nord's face as she kisses her intended's cheek. "As soon as Del and I wake in the morning, we'll be heading down to the Rift to speak to Maramal. I'll be sure to send a message up to you and the others who want to come as soon as it's scheduled." Before the officer could open his mouth, Aising continues with "We're leaving tomorrow because I don't need the royal idiot realizing I'm in the city. Last thing I need is for him sending you, Jorlief or Ysarald to drag me back up to the palace. I helped him with the pile of dragon shit he stepped in by taking care of that puppet he made his wife, now I'm going to take care of myself- and that doesn't include him."

"Understood." The battleworn soldier glances down at the small vessel and goes "It's a shame the younger generations will have to pay for all of our sins for awhile- all for the idea of an independent Skyrim. But will that price be worth it?"Galmar starts to make his way out from where generations of Jarls and their families were interred, pausing when he reaches the door. "I'll do what I can to keep Ulfric from getting word that you're here, girl, but stick to those shadows you've come to love so much- they might end up being your saving grace when he does come stormin' to your door."

A/N: Wow. It's been awhile. I LIVE. Kinda. Sorta.

I started a new job back in mid-June, two weeks of training then started in July. I have barely any time to do much writing, just a little bit here and there on my down times...which also means a lot of this new chapter is piecemealed together. So there will be some mistakes that I didn't catch- if anyone finds anything that doesn't make sense, feel free to let me know in a message. My other works are also not abandoned and are slowly getting updated when time is being kind to me... And I might have started another work that's also been keeping me busy.

So, one or two chapters after this. Then fleshing out the ideas for the second part of this, because why should I give any character I create a HEA with any Skyrim character? Why would I make it easy on myself?

And I think that is that. Thanks to everyone who's stuck with me during my absence, I'll try to learn better time management. And thanks for reading!